JP4633211B2 - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic camera and a recording medium, and more particularly to an electronic camera and a recording medium that can change the size of a recorded image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electronic camera that can set the number of pixels of a recorded image stepwise such as 1200 × 1800 (pixel) or 480 × 640 (pixel) is known.
[0003]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-304187 detects the number of vertical and horizontal dots of photographed image data, detects the size of the paper loaded in the printer, corrects the size of the photographed image data, and outputs it to the printer engine. A printing apparatus and method and a recording medium are shown.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the recording resolution taken with an electronic camera is often different from the resolution or image size required at the time of printing, in order to actually print out, each image is set to an appropriate size at the time of printing. It was necessary to reset the image size, convert it, and print it out.
[0005]
Further, in the printing apparatus and method and recording medium disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-304187, a correction process is required in which a user sets conditions such as an image size for each image to be printed. When printing this, a heavy burden was placed on the user.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and at the time of printout or image output, it is not necessary to make settings according to the resolution and image size of the printer to be used. An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera and a recording medium that generate image data that can be displayed.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is an electronic camera that captures a subject image using an image sensor and records image data acquired by the imaging on a recording medium. Setting means for setting the number of pixels required for output, and conversion for converting image data corresponding to the number of pixels of the image sensor acquired by the imaging into image data of the number of pixels set by the setting means Show means, recording means for recording the image data converted by said converting means to said recording medium, and the print size, the information indicating the type of the specific capable printer of the printer resolution, or the printer resolution Display means,
The image output means is a printer that prints an image, and the setting means is requested at the time of printing determined by the print size selected from the information displayed on the display means and the resolution or type of the printer. It is characterized in that the number of pixels, which is the product of the number of vertical × horizontal dots during printing of the selected print size, is set.
[0008]
According to the present invention, setting means for setting the number of pixels required when output by the predetermined image output means, and image data corresponding to the number of pixels of the image sensor obtained by imaging are set by the setting means. conversion means for converting the image data number of pixels, since a recording means for recording the image data converted by said converting means on a recording medium, to obtain a Oite quickly printout during print out It becomes possible.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an electronic camera and a recording medium according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0012]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic camera according to the present invention.
[0013]
When the release switch 50 of the electronic camera 8 shown in the figure is pressed, the main CPU 30 detects this and sends a command to the camera CPU 22. The camera CPU 22 performs focus control, photometry, and exposure control, and forms image light of the subject on the light receiving surface of the CCD 12 via the optical unit 10. The CCD 12 converts the image light imaged on the light receiving surface into a signal charge in an amount corresponding to the light amount. The signal charges accumulated in this manner are sequentially read out as voltage signals (image data) corresponding to the signal charges based on clock pulses from the clock generation circuit 24. The image data output from the CCD 12 is added to the analog processing circuit 14 where white balance adjustment, gamma correction, and the like are performed. The image data analog-processed by the analog processing circuit 14 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 16 and then temporarily stored in the buffer memory 18.
[0014]
The camera CPU 22 operates the strobe control circuit 26 when the subject is dark. The strobe control circuit 26 controls the discharge (light emission) to the xenon tube 28 in synchronization with the charging control of the main capacitor (not shown) and the operation of the release switch 50 when the subject is dark. Further, the charge accumulation time (shutter speed) in the CCD 12 is controlled via the clock generation circuit 24. The clock generation circuit 24 outputs clock pulses for driving the CCD 12, the analog processing circuit 14, and the A / D converter 16, and synchronizes the circuits.
[0015]
The image data of all the pixels output from the CCD 12 stored in the buffer memory 18 is transmitted to the conversion means 38 for converting the pixel size via the system bus 21, and the set print size and resolution at the time of printing are set. The pixel size for printing is changed or the pixel size required for output by a predetermined image output means is converted. The recording pixel size conversion processing at this time may use a hardware conversion engine, or may perform conversion processing using software using bilinear processing.
[0016]
The image data converted to the pixel size for printing or output is transmitted to the buffer memory 18 again. Then, the image data on the buffer memory 18 is transmitted to the YC processing circuit 20 by a command from the main CPU 30, converted into a YC signal (luminance signal Y and chroma signal C), and the YC signal is stored again in the buffer memory 18. . Next, the main CPU 30 (recording means) sends a command to the compression / decompression circuit 32, whereby the compression / decompression circuit 32 compresses the YC signal on the buffer memory 18 and sends the compressed image data via the recording interface 34. Recording is performed on the recording medium 36.
[0017]
The image may be recorded at a resolution according to the printing conditions or output conditions specified by the user, and two or more types of image data may be recorded together with the number of recording pixels specified by the user. At this time, the file name may be recorded in association with the recording resolution and the number of pixels, or may be classified and recorded for each directory or folder.
[0018]
The operation display 39 is a display device that performs various displays such as a frame number, and the power supply 40 supplies power to the elements of each block. The setting means 48 is provided with a mode selection switch for changing each mode such as shooting and reproduction, and an operation switch for setting a print size and resolution or a printer type when printing or outputting image data. It has been. An EEPROM 31 capable of reading and writing information is connected to the main CPU 30, and a processing program for operating the main CPU 30 and various constants and data are stored therein.
[0019]
Next, the display operation will be described. When the display switch in the setting means 48 is pressed, the main CPU 30 detects this and reads the compressed image data stored in the recording medium 36 via the recording interface 34. The read image data is decompressed into a YC signal by the compression / decompression circuit 32 and then temporarily stored in the buffer memory 18 via the system bus 21.
[0020]
The main CPU 30 converts the YC signal stored in the buffer memory 18 into RGB data by the YC → RGB conversion means 42 and displays it on the display means 46 via the driver 44.
[0021]
When outputting image data to another device using a communication unit, the transfer switch in the setting unit 48 is pressed to instruct the output of the image data. Then, the CPU 30 detects this and reads the compressed image data stored in the recording medium 36 via the recording interface 34. The read image data is decompressed into a YC signal by the compression / decompression circuit 32 and then temporarily stored in the buffer memory 18 via the system bus 21.
[0022]
The main CPU 30 transfers the YC signal stored in the buffer memory 18 to the communication driver 52. Then, the communication driver 52 starts communication with an external device according to a predetermined protocol, and transmits designated image data to another device.
[0023]
FIG. 2 shows a display example of a print setting screen for instructing the resolution and print size of the printer.
[0024]
The display of the print setting screen 54 shown in the figure is a setting screen displayed on the display means 46 or the operation display 39 of the electronic camera 8. On the print setting screen 54, a resolution instruction cursor 56 for instructing the printer model name or resolution and a print size cursor 58 for instructing the print size are displayed. Move the cursor to indicate the desired printer resolution and print size. In the example shown in FIG. 2, an instruction to print at a resolution of 300 (dpi) and a size of length × width = 89 × 127 (mm) is given, so the number of pixels of image data to be recorded is 1051 × 1500 dots. . Therefore, when the number of pixels taken by the electronic camera 8 is 1200 × 1800 (pixel), a process of converting the pixel amount to about 80% is performed.
[0025]
Information on the model name, resolution, and number of pixels of the printer may be stored in the electronic camera 8 or recorded on a recording medium attached to the printer in an erasable manner. 8 may be used to read and display information on the model name, resolution, and number of pixels of the printer. In addition, image data corresponding to the number of pixels of the image sensor and image data of the number of pixels required at the time of printing are also recorded on the recording medium, and the recorded image data is read by mounting the recording medium on a printer. May be printed.
[0026]
In general, when printing a plurality of images taken with an electronic camera, there are many uses for printing with the same print size using the same printer. Therefore, as shown in the present invention, the size at the time of printing image data at the time of shooting in advance. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform correction processing by setting conditions such as image size each time at the time of printing, and it is possible to easily perform printing processing in a short time.
[0027]
In the above embodiment, the example in which the number of pixels required at the time of printing with a predetermined printer is set and recorded has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this and is used for homepage creation data and the like. For this purpose, it may be recorded or output as image data.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the electronic camera of the present invention, the setting unit that directly or indirectly sets the number of pixels required when the image is output by the predetermined image output unit, and the pixel of the image sensor acquired by imaging Since the image data corresponding to the number includes conversion means for converting the image data of the number of pixels set by the setting means, and recording means for recording the image data converted by the conversion means on a recording medium, It is possible to quickly obtain a print output or display at the time of printout or image display.
[0029]
Further, according to the recording medium of the present invention, since the number of pixels required at the time of printing by the printer is recorded on the recording medium in an erasable manner, the electronic camera can detect the pixels required at the time of printing from the recording medium. Since it is possible to read out the number and convert the shooting data into the number of pixels and record it, it is not necessary to make settings according to the resolution and image size of the printer to be used at the time of printout, and print output can be performed quickly. Can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic camera and a recording medium according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a print setting screen for instructing the resolution and print size of the printer.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 8 ... Electronic camera, 10 ... Optical unit, 18 ... Buffer memory, 30 ... Main CPU (recording means), 34 ... Recording interface (recording means), 36 ... Recording medium, 38 ... Conversion means, 46 ... Display means, 48 ... Setting means, 54 ... print setting screen, 56 ... resolution instruction cursor, 58 ... print size cursor

Claims (3)

In an electronic camera that captures a subject image using an image sensor and records image data acquired by the imaging on a recording medium.
Setting means for setting the number of pixels required when outputting with a predetermined image output means;
Conversion means for converting image data corresponding to the number of pixels of the imaging element acquired by the imaging into image data of the number of pixels set by the setting means;
Recording means for recording the image data converted by the converting means on the recording medium;
It includes a print size, and display means for displaying the information indicating the type of the specific capable printers printer resolution or the printer resolution, and
The image output means is a printer for printing an image;
The setting means is the number of pixels required at the time of printing determined by the print size selected from the information displayed on the display means and the resolution or type of the printer, and the selected print size An electronic camera characterized in that the number of pixels, which is the product of the number of vertical x horizontal dots at the time of printing, is set.   2. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the setting means sets the number of pixels required at the time of printing with the printer according to the type of the designated printer. It said recording means, according to claim 1 or 2 of the electronic camera and recording together image data corresponding to the number of pixels the image pickup element to the recording medium.

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